leptin

Examples of leptin in the following topics:

• Organs with Secondary Endocrine Functions

  • It produces the hormone leptin in response to food intake.
  • Leptin increases the activity of anorexigenic neurons and decreases that of orexigenic neurons, producing a feeling of satiety after eating, thus affecting appetite and reducing the urge for further eating.
  • Leptin is also associated with reproduction.
  • Extremely thin females may enter puberty late; however, if adipose levels increase, more leptin will be produced, improving fertility.

• The Endocrine System and Hunger

  • Two other hormones, peptide YY and leptin, cause the physical sensations of being full.
  • Leptin, a hormone secreted exclusively by adipose cells in response to an increase in body-fat mass, helps regulate long-term hunger and food intake.
  • Leptin serves as the brain's indicator of the body's total energy stores.
  • The function of leptin is to suppress the release of neuropeptide Y (NPY), which in turn prevents the release of appetite-enhancing orexins from the lateral hypothalamus.
  • Though rising blood levels of leptin do promote weight loss to some extent, its main role is to protect the body against weight loss in times of nutritional deprivation.

• Hormones of the Digestive System

  • The last hormone is leptin which also helps to suppress appetite.
  • Leptin is produced by adipose fat tissue and targets the hypothalamus.

• Other Hormone-Producing Structures

  • Leptin, which targets the hypothalamus and is important in regulating food intake.